One of the most precious Christian doctrines is the doctrine of election or predestination. It is sometimes mocked and rejected, even by Christians, but the mysterious glory is that before the foundation of the world, God chose from Adam’s impudent, rebellious race a fixed but vast multitude to save. There was nothing in us that made us worthy of His grace, nothing in us that made us even likeable. It was not even foreseeing what we might be or what we might do if He saved us, as though He picked the people who respond best to His grace. No, it was sheer grace, pure kindness and mercy, in order to display the riches of his glory and mercy. He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, and the way we know we are among the elect and chosen is because when Christ is proclaimed we love Him, when the Cross and resurrection are declared, it fires our hearts, and when this doctrine is preached, it makes us fall down in worship and repentance. We were not worthy. We are not worthy. And so we rejoice with trembling.
But this doctrine doesn’t stop there. This doctrine of election and predestination means that God not only chose us, but He chose us to be conformed to the image of His Son throughout the course of our lives and to finally be glorified with Christ Jesus forever and ever. This means absolutely nothing can separate us from His love. This election is written in the granite of God’s eternal counsel and might. And this election was forever confirmed in the nails that were driven through the hands and feet of our Lord. Nothing can stop His purpose and plan: not your sin, not Satan, not demons, not political madness, not heresy, nothing at all. Everything in this world, everything in our lives must serve God’s purpose. The doctrine of election means that the children of God are utterly safe in His hands. Nothing can touch us without His will, and everything that touches us must serve His purpose to display His glorious grace and bring us to glory. And this meal proclaims that sovereign grace.
So come and welcome to Jesus Christ.
Photo by John Baker on Unsplash
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